Part 3Inquiries

Notification of name of inspector

12.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of State must notify in writing the persons entitled to appear at the inquiry of the name of the inspector.

(2) Where the Secretary of State appoints another inspector instead of the person previously appointed, and it is not practicable to provide notification of the new appointment before the inquiry is held, the inspector holding the inquiry must, at its commencement, announce their name and the fact of their appointment.

Notice of inquiry and statements of case

13.—(1) As soon as practicable after a determination under section 319A of the 1990 Act has been made that a local inquiry is to be held to consider the application, the Secretary of State must send a notice to—

(a)the applicant,

(b)the relevant local planning authority, and

(c)any statutory party.

(2) The notice in paragraph (1) must state that—

(a)the persons specified in paragraph (1) may submit a statement of case to the inquiry if they wish to do so,

(b)any statutory party may make a request to appear at the inquiry, and

(c)any statement of case or request to appear at the inquiry must be submitted to the Secretary of State before the end of the period of 5 weeks, beginning with the starting date.

(3) A statement of case must be in writing and contain full particulars of the case which the person proposes to put forward and copies of any documents which that person intends to refer to or put in evidence.

(4) Where any other person has made a request to appear at the inquiry, the Secretary of State may in writing request that the person submit a statement of case which should be sent to the Secretary of State before the end of the period of 4 weeks beginning with the date the Secretary of State sends the request.

(5) Whether or not a person has provided a statement of case, the Secretary of State may in writing request that a person provide further specified information about the matters contained in any written document submitted by that person, and may specify the period within which the information must be sent to the Secretary of State.

(6) Subject to paragraph (7), as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of a statement of case, or any further information requested in accordance with paragraph (5), the Secretary of State must—

(a)take steps to ensure that a copy of the statement of case or further information is provided to the applicant, the relevant local planning authority and any statutory party, and

(b)publish the statement of case, or the further information, on a website.

(7) Where a statement of case or any further information contains or refers to closed evidence, only the open statement or open further information may be disclosed to the parties mentioned in paragraph (6)(a) or published on the website referred to in paragraph (6)(b).

(8) The Secretary of State must, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt, send to the inspector, and where applicable, any appointed representative, any statement of case, document or further information sent to him in accordance with this rule and received within the applicable time period.

(9) Subject to paragraph (10), the Secretary of State must afford to any person who so requests a reasonable opportunity to inspect and, where practicable, take copies of any statement of case or further information that has been sent to the Secretary of State in accordance with this rule.

(10) The Secretary of State must only allow the inspection of an open statement or open further information.

(11) For the purposes of paragraph (9) an opportunity is taken to have been afforded to a person where the person is notified of—

(a)publication on a website of the document mentioned in that paragraph,

(b)the address of the website, and

(c)the place on the website where the document may be accessed, and how it may be accessed.

(12) In this rule, “open statement” means such part (if any) of a statement of case as does not contain or refer to closed evidence, and “open further information” means such part (if any) of any further information provided to the Secretary of State as does not contain or refer to closed evidence.

Statement of matters

14.  An inspector may, within a period of 12 weeks beginning with the starting date, send to the applicant, the relevant local planning authority and any statutory party, a written statement of the matters about which the inspector wishes to be informed for the purposes of determining the application

Pre-inquiry meetings

15.—(1) The inspector must hold a pre-inquiry meeting—

(a)if they expect an inquiry to last for 8 days or more, unless they consider it is unnecessary, or

(b)in respect of shorter inquiries, if the inspector considers it necessary.

(2) An inspector must give at least 2 weeks’ written notice of a pre-inquiry meeting to—

(a)the applicant,

(b)the relevant local planning authority,

(c)any statutory party,

(d)any other person known to be entitled to appear at the inquiry, and

(e)any other person whose presence at the meeting appears to the inspector to be desirable.

(3) The inspector—

(a)must preside at the pre-inquiry meeting,

(b)must determine the matters to be discussed and the procedure to be followed,

(c)may require any person present at the pre-inquiry meeting who, in their opinion, is behaving in a disruptive manner to leave, and

(d)may refuse to permit that person to return or to attend any further pre-inquiry meeting, or may permit that person to return or attend only on such conditions as the inspector may specify.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), if the inspector requests any further information from the applicant or the relevant local planning authority at the pre-inquiry meeting, the inspector must take steps to ensure that the information has been received by the inspector, and a copy has been received by the applicant, the local planning authority and any statutory party before the end of a period of 4 weeks beginning with the date of the pre-inquiry meeting.

(5) Copies of information provided to the inspector which contains or refers to closed evidence must not be sent to the persons specified in paragraph (4).

Inquiry timetable

16.—(1) In respect of all inquiries that appear to the Secretary of State likely to last for 8 days or more, the inspector must prepare a timetable for the proceedings.

(2) In respect of shorter inquiries the inspector may at any time prepare a timetable for the proceedings at, or at part of, an inquiry.

(3) The inspector may, at any time, vary the timetable.

(4) The inspector may specify in the timetable a date by which any proof of evidence and summary sent in accordance with rule 20 must be received by the Secretary of State.

Notification of appointment of assessor

17.  Where the Secretary of State appoints an assessor, the Secretary of State must notify every person entitled to appear at the inquiry of the name of the assessor and of the matters on which the assessor is to advise the inspector.

Date and notification of date of inquiry

18.—(1) The date fixed by the Secretary of State for the holding of an inquiry must be—

(a)within a period of 20 weeks, beginning with the starting date, unless the Secretary of State considers such a date impracticable, or

(b)the earliest date after that period which the Secretary of State considers to be practicable.

(2) Unless the Secretary of State agrees a lesser period of notice with the applicant and the relevant local planning authority, the Secretary of State must give not less than 4 weeks’ written notice of the date, time and place fixed for the holding of the inquiry to every person entitled to appear at the inquiry.

(3) Where any person entitled to appear at the inquiry has agreed that notice of the matters mentioned in paragraph (2) may be given by publishing them on a website, the written notice required under paragraph (2) is deemed to be given where, not less than 4 weeks before the date fixed for the holding of the inquiry, the Secretary of State notifies that person of—

(a)the publication,

(b)the address on the website, and

(c)the place on the website where the notice may be accessed, and how it may be accessed.

(4) The Secretary of State may vary the date fixed for the holding of an inquiry, whether or not the date as varied is within the period of 20 weeks mentioned in paragraph (1), and paragraphs (2) and (3) apply to the variation of a date as they apply to the date originally fixed.

(5) The Secretary of State may vary the time or place for the holding of an inquiry and must give such notice of any such variation as appears to the Secretary of State to be reasonable.

(6) The Secretary of State may by written notice require the relevant local planning authority to take one or more of the following steps—

(a)not less than 2 weeks before the date fixed for the holding of an inquiry, to publish a notice of the inquiry in one or more local newspapers circulating in the locality in which the land is situated;

(b)to send a notice of the inquiry to such persons or classes of person as the Secretary of State may specify, within such period as the Secretary of State may specify;

(c)to post a notice of the inquiry in a conspicuous place near to the land, within such period as the Secretary of State may specify.

(7) Where the land is under the control of the applicant, the applicant must—

(a)if so required in writing by the Secretary of State, affix a notice of the inquiry firmly to the land or to some object on or near the land, in such manner as to be readily visible to, and legible by, members of the public, and

(b)not remove the notice, or cause or permit it to be removed, for such period before the inquiry as the Secretary of State may specify.

(8) Subject to paragraph (9), every notice of inquiry published, sent or posted pursuant to paragraph (6), or affixed pursuant to paragraph (7), must contain—

(a)a clear statement of the date, time and place of the inquiry and of the powers enabling the inspector to determine the application in question,

(b)a written description of the land sufficient to identify its approximate location,

(c)a brief description of the subject matter of the application, and

(d)details of where and when copies of the following may be inspected—

(i)any statements of case submitted to the Secretary of State in accordance with rule 13;

(ii)the information provided to the Secretary of State by relevant local planning authority in accordance with article 14 of the 2025 Order.

(9) A notice of inquiry must not contain or refer to any closed evidence.

Appearances at inquiry

19.—(1) The persons entitled to appear at an inquiry are—

(a)the applicant;

(b)the appointed representative, if any;

(c)the relevant local planning authority;

(d)any of the following bodies if the land is situated in their area and they are not the local planning authority—

(i)a county or district council;

(ii)an enterprise zone authority designated under Schedule 32 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980(1);

(iii)the Broads Authority, within the meaning of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988(2);

(iv)a housing action trust specified in an order made under section 67(1) of the Housing Act 1988(3);

(e)where the land is in an area previously designated as a new town under the New Towns Act 1981(4), the Homes and Communities Agency(5);

(f)any statutory party;

(g)the council of the parish in which the land is situated, if that council made representations to the Secretary of State pursuant to article 21 of the 2025 Order;

(h)where the application was required to be notified to the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England under section 14 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990(6), that Commission(7);

(i)any other person who has sent a statement of case to the Secretary of State in accordance with rule 13.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) prevents the inspector from permitting any other person to appear at the inquiry, and such permission must not be unreasonably withheld.

(3) Any person entitled or permitted to appear may do so on their own behalf or be represented by any other person.

Proofs of evidence

20.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), any person entitled to appear at an inquiry who proposes to give, or to call another person to give, evidence at the inquiry by reading a proof of evidence must send a copy of that proof of evidence, and any written summary, to—

(a)the Secretary of State, and

(b)all persons listed in rule 13(1).

(2) Where the proof of evidence includes or refers to closed evidence, only the open proof and open summary may be sent to the persons mentioned in paragraph (1)(b).

(3) A written summary is not required to be sent where the proof of evidence proposed to be read contains no more than 1500 words.

(4) The proof of evidence and any written summary sent in accordance with this rule must be received by the persons mentioned in paragraph (1) no later than—

(a)4 weeks before the date fixed for holding of the inquiry, or

(b)where a timetable has been prepared in accordance with rule 16, the date specified in that timetable for the proof of evidence and any summary to be received by the persons mentioned in paragraph (1).

(5) Subject to paragraph (6), the Secretary of State must, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of a proof of evidence, publish the proof of evidence and any summary on a website.

(6) Where the proof of evidence includes or refers to closed evidence, only the open proof and open summary may be published on the website.

(7) The Secretary of State must send to the inspector and any appointed representative, as soon as practicable after receipt, any proof of evidence together with any summary received by him within the applicable time period.

(8) Where a written summary is provided in accordance with paragraph (1), only that summary (or open summary, if applicable) may be read at the inquiry, unless the inspector permits or requires otherwise.

(9) Subject to paragraph (10), the Secretary of State must afford to any person who so requests a reasonable opportunity to inspect and, where practicable, take copies of any proof of evidence or written summary that has been sent to the Secretary of State in accordance with this rule.

(10) The Secretary of State must only allow the inspection of an open proof and an open summary.

(11) For the purposes of paragraph (9) an opportunity is taken to have been afforded to a person where the person is notified of—

(a)publication on a website of the document mentioned in that paragraph,

(b)the address of the website, and

(c)the place on the website where the documents may be accessed, and how they may be accessed.

(12) In this rule, “open proof” means such part of any proof of evidence (if any) which does not contain or refer to closed evidence, and “open summary” means a written summary of the open proof.

Procedure at the inquiry

21.—(1) Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, the inspector may determine the procedure at an inquiry.

(2) At the start of the inquiry the inspector must identify what are, in the opinion of the inspector, the main issues to be considered at the inquiry and any matters on which the inspector requires further explanation from the persons entitled or permitted to appear.

(3) Nothing in paragraph (2) precludes any person entitled or permitted to appear from referring to issues which they consider relevant to the consideration of the application but which are not issues identified by the inspector pursuant to that paragraph.

(4) Persons entitled or permitted to appear will be heard in such order as the inspector may determine.

(5) Subject to the other provisions of this rule, the calling of evidence and the cross-examination of persons giving evidence will be at the discretion of the inspector.

(6) A person entitled to appear at an inquiry is entitled to call evidence.

(7) The applicant, the relevant local planning authority and any statutory party are entitled to cross-examine persons giving evidence.

(8) The inspector may refuse to permit the—

(a)giving or production of evidence,

(b)cross-examination of persons giving evidence, or

(c)presentation of any other matter,

which the inspector considers to be irrelevant or repetitious.

(9) Where the inspector refuses to permit the giving of oral evidence, the person wishing to give the evidence may submit any evidence or other matter to the inspector in writing before the close of the inquiry.

(10) Where a person gives evidence at an inquiry by reading a summary of their proof of evidence in accordance with rule 20(8)—

(a)the proof of evidence referred to in rule 20(1) will be treated as tendered in evidence unless the person required to provide the summary notifies the inspector that they now wish to rely on the contents of the summary alone, and

(b)the person whose evidence the proof of evidence contains will then be subject to cross-examination on it to the same extent as if it were evidence submitted orally.

(11) The inspector may direct that facilities must be afforded to any person appearing at an inquiry to take or obtain copies of documentary evidence open to public inspection.

(12) The inspector may require any person appearing or present at an inquiry who, in the inspector’s opinion, is behaving in a disruptive manner to leave and—

(a)refuse to permit them to return, or

(b)permit them to return only on such condition as the inspector may specify.

(13) Any person who is required to leave and is not permitted to return or who does not return may submit written representations to the inspector before the close of the inquiry.

(14) The inspector may allow any person to alter or add to their statement of case submitted in accordance with rule 13 so far as may be necessary for the purposes of the inquiry, but the inspector may (if necessary by adjourning the inquiry) give every other person entitled to appear who is appearing at the inquiry an adequate opportunity to consider any new matter or document.

(15) The inspector may proceed with an inquiry in the absence of any person entitled to appear at it.

(16) The inspector may take into account any written representation or evidence or any other document received by them from any person before an inquiry opens or during the inquiry provided that the inspector discloses it at the inquiry.

(17) The inspector may from time to time adjourn an inquiry and, if the date, time and place of the adjourned inquiry are announced before the adjournment, no further notice will be required.

(18) In respect of any inquiry that the Secretary of State expects to last for 8 days or more, any person, who appears at the inquiry and makes closing submissions, must by the close of the inquiry provide the inspector with a copy of their closing submissions in writing.

Site inspections

22.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the inspector may make an unaccompanied inspection of the land before or during an inquiry without giving notice of their intention to the persons entitled to appear at the inquiry.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply where a site inspection will involve inspection of closed evidence.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), during an inquiry or after its close, the inspector—

(a)may inspect the land in the company of the applicant, the relevant local planning authority and any statutory party, and

(b)must make such an inspection if so requested by the applicant or the relevant local planning authority before or during an inquiry.

(4) Where an accompanied site inspection will involve the inspection of closed evidence, paragraph (3) does not apply and the inspector—

(a)may inspect the land in the company of the applicant and the appointed representative, if any, and

(b)must make such an inspection if so requested by the applicant or the appointed representative before or during any inquiry.

(5) In all cases where the inspector intends to make an accompanied inspection, the inspector must announce during the inquiry the date and time proposed for the inspection.

(6) The inspector will not be bound to defer an inspection of the kind referred to in paragraph (3) or (4) where any person mentioned in that paragraph is not present at the time appointed.

Procedure after inquiry: standard applications

23.—(1) This rule applies in relation to a standard application.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where an assessor has been appointed they may, after the close of the inquiry, make a report in writing to the inspector in respect of the matters on which the assessor was appointed to advise, and where they do so the inspector must state in their notification of their decision pursuant to rule 25 that such a report was made.

(3) Where closed evidence was considered at the inquiry, the assessor must set out in a separate part (“the closed part”) of their report any description of that evidence, together with any conclusions or recommendations in relation to that evidence.

(4) When making their decision, the inspector may disregard any written representation or evidence or any other document received after the close of the inquiry.

(5) Subject to paragraph (7), paragraph (6) applies where if after the close of an inquiry an inspector proposes to take into consideration any new evidence or any new matter of fact (not being a matter of government policy) which was not raised at the inquiry, and which the inspector considers to be material to their decision.

(6) The inspector must not come to a decision without first—

(a)notifying in writing the persons entitled to appear at the inquiry, and who appeared at it, of the matter in question, and

(b)affording them an opportunity of making written representations to the inspector or of asking for the re-opening of the inquiry.

(7) Where any new evidence is closed evidence, paragraph (6) does not apply, and the inspector must not make a decision without first notifying the appointed representative in writing and affording them the opportunity to make written representations to the inspector or of asking for the re-opening of the inquiry.

(8) Any written representations or requests to re-open the inquiry made in response to the notification made in accordance with paragraph (6) or paragraph (7), as the case may be, must be received by the Secretary of State within the period of 3 weeks beginning on the day the notification was sent.

(9) An inspector may, as they think fit, cause an inquiry to be re-opened, and the inspector must do so if asked by the applicant or the relevant local planning authority within the period mentioned in paragraph (8), and where an inquiry is re-opened—

(a)the inspector must send to the persons entitled to appear at the inquiry who appeared at it a written statement of the matters with respect to which further evidence is invited, and

(b)paragraphs (2) to (9) of rule 18 apply as if the references to an inquiry were references to a re-opened inquiry.

Procedure after inquiry: recovered applications

24.—(1) This rule applies in relation to a recovered application.

(2) After the close of an inquiry, the inspector must make a report in writing to the Secretary of State which must include the inspector’s conclusions and their recommendations or their reasons for not making any recommendations.

(3) Where an assessor has been appointed, they may, after the close of the inquiry, make a report in writing to the inspector in respect of the matters on which they were appointed to advise.

(4) Where an assessor makes a report in accordance with paragraph (3), the inspector must append it to their own report, and must state in their own report how far they agree or disagree with the assessor’s report, and where the inspector disagrees with the assessor, their reasons for that disagreement.

(5) Where closed evidence was considered at the inquiry—

(a)the inspector or assessor, where one has been appointed, must set out in a separate part (“the closed part”) of their report any description of that evidence, together with any conclusions or recommendations in relation to that evidence, and

(b)where an assessor has been appointed, the inspector must append the closed part of the assessor’s report to the closed part of their own report and must state in the closed part of their own report how far they agree or disagree with the closed part of the assessor’s report and where the inspector disagrees with the assessor, their reasons for that disagreement.

(6) When making their decision, the Secretary of State may disregard any written representation, evidence or other document received after the close of the inquiry.

(7) Subject to paragraph (9), paragraph (8) applies where after the close of an inquiry, the Secretary of State—

(a)differs from the inspector on any matter of fact mentioned in, or appearing to the Secretary of State to be material to, a conclusion reached by the inspector, or

(b)takes into consideration any new evidence or new matter of fact (not being a matter of government policy),

and is for that reason disposed to disagree with a recommendation made by the inspector.

(8) The Secretary of State must not come to a decision which is at variance with the inspector’s recommendation without first—

(a)notifying in writing the persons entitled to appear at the inquiry who appeared at it of the Secretary of State’s disagreement and the reasons for it, and

(b)affording those persons an opportunity of making written representations or (if the Secretary of State has taken into consideration any new evidence or new matter of fact, not being a matter of government policy) of asking for the re-opening of the inquiry.

(9) Where the Secretary of State differs from the inspector on any matter of fact mentioned in, or appearing to the Secretary of State to be material to, a conclusion reached by the inspector in relation to a matter in respect of which closed evidence has been given, the notification referred to in paragraph (8) must not include the reasons for the Secretary of State’s disagreement where—

(a)the notification is addressed to a person who is neither the appointed representative nor any person specified, or of a description specified, in the security direction, and

(b)inclusion of the reasons would disclose any part of the closed evidence.

(10) Any written representations or requests to re-open the inquiry made in response to the notification made in accordance with paragraph (8) must be received by the Secretary of State within the period of 3 weeks beginning on the day the notification was sent.

(11) The Secretary of State may, as they think fit, cause an inquiry to be re-opened, and must do so if asked by the applicant or the relevant local planning authority within the period mentioned in paragraph (10).

(12) Where an inquiry is re-opened (whether by the same or a different inspector)—

(a)the Secretary of State must send to the persons entitled to appear at the inquiry and who appeared at it a written statement of the matters with respect of which further evidence is invited, and

(b)paragraphs (2) to (9) of rule 18 apply as if the references to an inquiry were a references to a re-opened inquiry.

Notification of decision

25.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the inspector in the case of a standard application, or the Secretary of State in the case of a recovered application, must as soon as practicable, notify their decision on an application, and their reasons for it, in writing to—

(a)all persons entitled to appear at the inquiry who did appear, and

(b)any other person who, having appeared at the inquiry, asked to be notified of the decision.

(2) Where the reasons for a decision given by the inspector or the Secretary of State relate to matters in respect of which closed evidence has been given, nothing in paragraph (1) requires the inspector or the Secretary of State to notify those reasons to any person other than—

(a)the appointed representative, or

(b)a person specified, or of a description specified, in the security direction.

(3) Notification in writing of a decision and reasons for it will be taken to have been given to a person for the purposes of this rule where—

(a)the Secretary of State and the person have agreed that decisions and reasons required under this rule to be given in writing may instead be accessed by that person via a website,

(b)the decision and reasons are a decision and reasons to which that agreement applies,

(c)the Secretary of State has published the decision and reasons on a website, and

(d)the person is notified, in a manner for the time being agreed between that person and the Secretary of State, of—

(i)the publication of the decision and reasons on a website,

(ii)the address of the website, and

(iii)the place on the website where the decision and reasons may be accessed, and how they may be accessed.

(4) In the case of a recovered application—

(a)where the inspector’s report is not sent with the notification of the decision, the notification must be accompanied by a statement of the inspector’s conclusion and of any recommendations made by the inspector;

(b)a person may apply to the Secretary of State in writing for a copy of the inspector’s report before the end of the period of 4 weeks beginning with the date of the Secretary of State’s decision and the Secretary of State must supply a copy;

(c)where the inspector’s report includes the assessor’s report appended to it, but does not include any other document so appended, any person who has received a copy of the report may apply to the Secretary of State in writing for an opportunity to inspect any such documents and the Secretary of State must afford the person that opportunity.

(5) In the case of a standard application, any person entitled to be notified of the inspector’s decision under paragraph (1) may apply to the Secretary of State in writing for an opportunity to inspect any documents listed in the notification and any report made by an assessor and the Secretary of State must afford the person that opportunity.

(6) For the purposes of paragraphs (4)(c) and (5), an opportunity will be taken to have been afforded to a person where that person is notified of—

(a)publication of the relevant documents on a website,

(b)the address of the website, and

(c)the place on the website where the documents may be accessed, and how they may be accessed.

(7) Any application made pursuant to paragraph (4)(c) or (5) must be received by the Secretary of State before the end of the period of 6 weeks beginning with the date of the decision.

(8) Nothing in this rule requires the disclosure of the closed part of the assessor’s report referred to in rule 23(3) or the closed part of the inspector’s or assessor’s reports referred to in rule 24(5) to a person other than—

(a)the appointed representative, or

(b)a person specified, or of any description specified, in the security direction.

Procedure following quashing of decision

26.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), where a decision of an inspector in the case of a standard decision, or the decision of the Secretary of State in the case of a recovered decision, in respect of which an inquiry has been held, is quashed in proceedings before any court, the Secretary of State—

(a)must send to any person entitled to appear at the inquiry who appeared at it a written statement of the matters with respect to which further representations are invited for the purposes of the further consideration of the application,

(b)must afford to those persons the opportunity of making written representations to the Secretary of State in respect of those matters or of asking for the re-opening of the inquiry, and

(c)may, as the Secretary of State thinks fit, cause the inquiry to be re-opened (whether by the same or a different inspector), and if the Secretary of State does so, paragraphs (2) to (9) of rule 18 will apply as if the references to an inquiry were references to a re-opened inquiry.

(2) Where the matters referred to in paragraph (1)(a) will involve consideration of closed evidence, the Secretary of State must only send the written statement to—

(a)the appointed representative, and

(b)a person specified, or of any description specified, in the security direction.

(3) Those persons making representations or asking for the inquiry to be re-opened must ensure such representations or requests are received by the Secretary of State within a period of 3 weeks beginning with the date the written statement under paragraph (1)(a) was sent.

Closed evidence not to be disclosed

27.  Nothing in these Rules requires or permits closed evidence to be disclosed to a person other than—

(a)the Secretary of State,

(b)the appointed representative, or

(c)a person specified, or of any description specified, in the security direction.

Allowing further time

28.  The Secretary of State may at any time in any particular case allow further time for the taking of any step which is required or enabled to be taken by virtue of these Rules, and reference in these Rules to a day by which, or a period within which, any step is required or enabled to be taken must be construed accordingly.

Additional copies

29.—(1) The Secretary of State may at any time before the close of an inquiry request from any person entitled to appear additional copies of the following—

(a)a statement of case sent in accordance with rule 13,

(b)a proof of evidence sent in accordance with rule 20, or

(c)any other document or information sent to the Secretary of State before or during an inquiry,

and may specify a time within which such copies should be received by the Secretary of State.

(2) Any person so requested must ensure that the copies are received by the Secretary of State within the time period specified.